Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Q. What are the factors that constitute a knowledge society according to Abdul Kalam?
Abdul Kalam was a great Indian scientist. He took charge as President of India in July, 2002. He received the
Bharata Ratna in 1997. He was a voracious reader. The present extract The Knowledge Society is taken from his
Ignited Minds. It throws light on modern civilization. He stresses the need for developing the society. His outlook is
typically scientific. His language reflects the clarity and objectivity of his thoughts.
Dr. Abdul Kalam says that India has to get transformed into a developed nation. It is possible through the
acquisition of knowledge and utilization of technology. Dr. Kalam explains how to make the way to a bright and
prosperous future. India is a land of rich knowledge. The Knowledge is always the Prime mover of prosperity. A nation
becomes a knowledge society when it deals with knowledge creation and knowledge deployment.
The knowledge society has two dimensional objectives. They are societal transformation and wealth
generation. The former one promotes high productivity and rural prosperity. It helps even to create ample opportunities
for employment. Information Technology plays an important role in wealth generation. Dr. Kalam dreams that India
would become a knowledge superpower in the nearest future.
-- Ngugi wa Thiong O
Q. How does the title The Language of African Literature get a voice through the life of
Ngugi Wa Thiong O?
Ngugi wa Thiong O is a Kenyan novelist and social activist. He is born in a peasant family in Kenya. He is a
professor of English at the University of California. He is the recipient of many honors and doctorates.
In his essay The Language of African Literature Ngugi wa Thiong O strongly opposed the system of
colonial education. The system discouraged the use of his mother tongue Gikuyu in Schools. It also suppressed the
expression of African Writers in their native language. The writer narrated his childhood experiences. He spoke Gikuyu
at home and at work. He started to learn about life and the world through his own language. He realized the musical
beauty of his language. He liked to listen to moral stories in Gikuyu.
When once he joined colonial schools, English was imposed on him. The language of his education was
different from the language of his culture. Native languages were not allowed to be used in the premises of the school.
Performance in English was rewarded. He was punished for using his mother tongue. The punishment was three to
five strokes of cane on bare buttocks or to carry a metal plate around the neck with the inscription I am stupid or I
am a donkey. Sometimes the offenders were forced to pay the fine. He wanted the children of Africa to learn their
culture through their own language.
He launched a bold struggle for a noble cause
Q. What is the reason for traveller choosing the less conventional path? (Or)
The path of difficulty is in many ways the better one. How does the poem show this?
Robert Frost is universally praised as the most famous American poet. His poem The Road Not Taken
reveals that the path of difficulty is in many ways the better one. Opting for the right one from among many
choices is a tough task. We should always have the courage to choose the right way even if it is rough and
thorny.
One day the poet travels alone in a yellow wood. He reaches a point where the road bifurcates in to
two. He is in dilemma which road to take. He has to choose the better of the two. He looks at the both roads
very carefully and choose less conventional road which is grassy and less trodden. Of the two roads, one
represents the more conventional safer one. The other represents the less conventional, the more risky and
the more adventurous one. An adventurous deed brings us happiness.
All of us reach a crucial point in life when we have to use our sense of discretion in making a right
choice. That choice may determine our destiny. It is thrilling and rewarding to take a less trodden path since
fortune favours the brave. The poet wants to be different in attitude from the other people. Hence he takes
less trodden path to face the challenging realities. A right and timely choice of career even if it involves
some problems may lead to success, prosperity and happiness.
Nissim Ezekiel was a great poet of India. His poem The Night of the Scorpion revealed the love and
affection of a mother towards her children. The poets mother was stung by a scorpion. It came out of its
hiding place because of continuous rain. It stung the mother and went out into the rain. Soon the news was
spread among the villagers.
The villagers came to see her in large number. They had many blind beliefs. They chanted the name of
god hundred times to paralyse the evil one. They believed that the pain of mother would increase with
every movement of the scorpion. It had to be stopped or killed. They searched for it but it was not found
anywhere. Some of them commented that her present pain would wash away the sins of her previous birth.
It would also lessen her sorrow in the next birth. They hoped that the poison of the scorpion would purify
her flesh of desire and her spirit of ambition.
The poets father was a sceptic and rationalist. He even poured a little paraffin upon the bitten toes
and put a burning match stick to it. It was a crude and unscientific way of healing a person stung by a
scorpion. He allowed the holy man to tame the poison with his prayers. He knew that it was all
unreasonable. But he was helpless when his wife suffered. The mother got rid of pain after twenty hours.
She thanked god for choosing her and sparing her children from the scorpion. Thus the poet praised the
bond of love among the villagers and sacrificing nature of the mother.
I SEMESTER SHORT STORY 2016-17
Mulk Raj Anand is an Indian Writer in English. He is admired for his novels about the lives of the oppressed in India.
The Lost Child is an emotional short story written by him. It is about a child who realizes the true value of parents when he
gets lost in a village fair. The ending is suspense whether the lost child finally finds his parents or not.
On the day of the festival a large crowd of newly dressed people were going to a village fair. Among them was a little
boy following his parents. The little boy stopped behind his parents as he was attracted by a toy shop. He wanted a toy but
dropped his idea only by the angry look of his father. The child was attracted by the cries of sweetmeat seller. His mouth
watered for the burfi which was his favourite sweet. He knew that his desire would not be fulfilled. Yet he spoke of it in a
whisper and then moved on without waiting for an answer. The next attraction was the rainbow coloured balloons but he was
sure that he would be refused.
The child was attracted by a roundabout in full swing. He watched it going round and round with group of men,
women and children on it. As soon as it stopped he boldly asked his parents for the pleasure of a trip on the roundabout. But
when he turned back he could not find them anywhere. With a cry of fear and grief, the weeping child ran about madly in
search of his parents, but there was no sign of them.
A kind hearted man tried to console the child by offering him a ride on the roundabout, but the child repeated his cry
for his parents. The man next took him to the snake charmer but he refused to listen to his flute. Then he offered to buy him
the bright coloured balloons. Finally the man tried to console the boy with some sweets but all his efforts failed. The child
only cried I want my father! I want my father!
The importance of parents is only revealed once they are out of sight and we realize the world is upside down. This is what
the little child realized once he got lost in the fair.
The Loaded Dog is a humorous short story by the Australian writer Henry Lawson. It deals with three gold miners
and their dog. It narrates the funny incident of a dog carrying back a bomb cartridge which causes blasting.
Dave, Jim and Andy used to blast the rocks for gold. They used the old fashioned blasting powder in a skin of strong
canvas. They would sew the mouth and blind round the end of the fuse. They would dip the cartridge in melted tallow to
make in water tight. They would get the drill hole into the rock as dry as possible and drop in the cartridge. Then they would
light the fuse and get out the rock which would blast in minutes.
They had a big black dog called Tommy. It was always slobbering around them. The dog was a good retriever. It
would carry back everything thrown by Andy. It thought everything useful and valuable. Once it took a dead cat also to the
camp as it was theirs. As the dog had this habit, it thought that the cartridge was a valuable thing for them. So it carried back
the cartridge also.
The dog ran after Andy with live cartridge. Andy roared at the dog to go home. He threw stones at the dog and ran
away. The dog left Andy and ran after Dave. Dave tried to make a dive and caught the dog by the tail. He snatched the
cartridge out of its mouth and flung it away as far as he could. But the dog carried it back again and there was a big blast.
After the explosion many Bushmen behind the stable doubled up against the wall. They rolled gently on the dust.
There were two white men in hysterics at the house. The publican was holding his wife tight. He was begging her to hold up
for his sake. At last Dave went back to the camp. The dog that had done it all also came to the camp. Andy chained the dog
securely.
The Merchant of Venice deals with mercy and religious tolerance. It is one of the best plays of Shakespeare. The
present scene describes the court scene. It dramatizes how Portia logically saves the life of Antonio from the clutches of
death.
Antonio and Bassanio are very good friends. They always share each other joys and sorrows. Bassanio wants
money for a trip to go to Belmont. Antonio is eager to help his friend but all his money has been tied up in trade.
Unfortunately Bassanio goes to Shylock, a rival to Antonio and borrows money as Antonio deliberately stands surety.
Shylock takes it as an advantage to take revenge upon Antonio. He makes a bond that in case Antonio does not pay the
amount in due time he will take a pound of flesh from his body. Antonio agrees to the bond with confidence that he will pay
the amount as soon as his ships return.
When Antonio fails to pay back his debts, the court summons him to appear before the Justice. He has to pay the
penalty of the bond that is one pound of flesh. Bassanio reads Antonios letter to Portia. Portia understands the problem of
Antonio. She advises him to pay more money in order to save Antonios life. She at once asks Bassanio to hurry to the help
of his noble friend. She says that she wants Basssanio to do quickly what is to be done. Bassanio is very happy as Portia
gives him permission to go to Venice at once.
Portia enters the court as a young lawyer. She says that Shylock can have a pound of flesh from Antonios body
according to bond. But he should make sure that Antonio does not shed a drop of blood while cutting a pound of flesh. It
should be exactly one pound, not more nor less. Otherwise all the property of Shylock will be given to States treasury. As
there is nothing to do Shylock admits his sin. Thus Portia saves the life of Antonio and wins the favour of Bassanio.
William Shakespeare is the greatest play-wright in English. His play The Merchant of Venice deals with mercy and
religious tolerance. The present scene describes the court scene. It dramatizes how logically Portia saves the life of Antonio
from the cruelty of Shylock.
Antonio was not hopeful throughout the scene. He was not confident of exempting from the punishment. Shylock
was adamant about the fulfillment of the bond. According to the bond he had the right to take a pound of flesh from the body
of Antonio in case Antonio failed to repay the money in time. Antonio and Shylock had been enemies for a long time. They
both belonged to different religions. Shylock was insulted by Antonio in public many times. So Shylock treated Antonio as his
enemy. He wanted to take revenge on Antonio. Now the time came to Shylock to take revenge on Antonio as Antonio failed
to repay the money in due time.
The Duke in the court asked Shylock to consider Antonios financial condition. He asked him to accept money in
place of a pound of flesh. Bassanio offered Shylock six thousand ducats instead of three thousand ducats to withdraw the
case. Portia also requested to forgive Antonio and show mercy on him. But Shylock refused to listen to all of them and
demanded only the pound of flesh form Antonios body.
The case was resolved by the judgement of Portia. She acted smartly and told Shylock that he could get Antonios
flesh as per the bond but he should not drop even a droplet of Antonios blood on the ground, just a pound of flesh-not more,
not less. If he took more or less than a pound of flesh, Shylock would die and all his goods would be seized. Portia thus
turned table against Shylock. Shylock realized that he had been utterly defeated. He said that he was willing to take
Bassanios offer of six thousand ducats. Shylock who earlier demanded justice now begged for Dukes mercy.
SPELLINGS
ARTICLES EXERCISE
07 PREPOSITIONS
I Semester English: Grammar PREPOSITIONS
26. He has been absent to the class _________ last Monday. (since)
44. She put _________ her new dress and went _________ a stroll. (on,
for)
Wh-Questions
I Semester English:Grammar Wh-Questions
8. He wants to buy a car soon
Wh-questions are questions which begin
with whom, whose, how etc. 9. This is Leelas book
eg. Where are you staying? 10. There are hundred cars
Assertive/Negative 11. My father is a farmer
12. He goes to college by bus
1. The meeting started at 9o clock
2. She learnt the veena in a music
college
1. The accident occurred when the motor bike hit a___________ lorry
(stationary/stationery)
2. My mother mixes floor and water to make_______ for pulkas (dough/ dove)
3. The electronic gadget works on ___________ power (duel/dual)
4. Veerappan is a ______________ smuggler (famous/notorious)
5. He tried in ____________ to pass the exam (vain/vein)
6. I will not be able to __________________ the new job. (accept/ except)
7. Please try not to __________________ your new sunglasses. (lose/loose)
8. __________________ going to the races this evening. (their/ they're)
9. How does candy __________________ your blood sugar? (affect/effect).
10. We had __________________ much snow last winter. ( to, too, two)
11. She __________________ the capitals of every state. ( new/ knew)
12. April is the __________________ month. (forth/ fourth)
13. The ____________ingredients of bread are flour, water, and yeast. (principal/ principle)
14. I would __________________ all parents to have a dog. (advice/ advise)
15. Which jeans are you going to ______? (wear/where)
16. Can you ______ some milk for me? ( pore/pour)
17. Take a ______. You're working too hard! (brake/break)
18. I received ______ from my boss. (mail/male)
19. My friends and I want to ______ across the lake. (sale/sail)
20. Your face looks very ______. ( pail/pale)
21. My legs are ______ after the 5 mile run. ( sore/soar)
22. Why is your ______ so long? ( hare /hair)
23. I have ______ the book ten times. ( red / read)
24. Which ______ of shoes should I wear today? (pair/ pare)
25. _______________your finger nails (pair/ pare)
26. Get up my _______ (son/sun)
27.The trail goes _________ the mountains. (threw/ through)
28. _________ your history teacher? (whos/ whose)
29. The TV has lost __________ picture. (its/ it's)
30.Get up my __________ (sun / son).
31. Tom has been collecting comic books ______he was ten years old. ( since/sense)
32. We must try our best to _______ away all prejudices (caste/ cast)
33. I did not have the ____________ (heart/ hart)
34. The_____________ ahs a short tail (hair/ heir)
35. The flesh of kangaroo sells very___________ (deer/ dear)
36. He told me the ___________ of a fox (tail/ tale)
37. The travelers had terrible journey through the ______ road (torturous/ tortuous)
38. The children have been playing for__________( too/ two) hours
39. What is the ___________of it? (prize/price)
40. Please__________ for me (pray/ prey)
41. We _____________ the orange with a knife (peel/ peal)
42. Please ___________ for a while (pass/ pause)
43. The time is half _________ ten (passed/ past)
44. Her face became__________ because of fear (pale/ pail)
45. _________ is used to row the boat (ore/ oar)
46. _____________ is a heavy metal (led/lead)
47. There is a _______in the bucket (whole/ hole)
48. If you want to reach god, you have to ___________worldly pleasures. (forgo/
forego)
49. David was _____________ for the function that had been cancelled. (all ready/ already)
50. It was _____________ seven oclock by the time we reached Boston.( all ready/ already)
51. The English ________I took last semester was the best Ive ever taken (course/ coarse)
52. Why dont you have the party _____________ in the garden? (here/hear)
53. After an hour, he _____________ Sharon wasnt coming. (knew, new)
54. Im not sure _____________ to wait or to come back later. (weather/ whether)
55. I promised my sister I would _____________ to her every week (write, right)
56. They are not going to ____________ this game. (loose/ lose)
57. This is one of the side ____________ of this medication. (effects/ affects)
58. Taking this medication might ____________ your sleep. (affect/ effect)
59. This is really ____________! (exiting/ exciting)
60. He is better at grammar ____________ I am. (then/ than)
61. The injection was given in the __________(vein/Vain)
62. All your efforts are going ________ (vain/ vein)
63. The British ________________ has still a Queen (umpire/empire)
64. The ___________is absolutely impartial(empire/ umpire)
65. We have a good basketball____________(team/ teem) in our college
66. The slum areas _______________with mosquitoes (team/ teem)
67. Tell me a ___________________(story/storey)
68. We lived on the second __________of the building (story/storey)
69. Draw a ____________________line (straight/ strait)
70. The ship has to pass through a _______________(straight/ strait)
71. The building is______________________(stationary/stationery)
72. She went to a shop to buy some ________________(stationary/ stationery)
73. This is _______________wrong (quite/ quiet)
74. Keep ________________in the class (quite/ quiet)
75. She writes _______________ regularly (diary/ dairy)
76. _______________is a place where milk and milk products are sold (diary/ dairy)
77. He is too ______________to walk
78. A _____________________has seven day (week/ weak)
79. Dont throw ______________in drains (waste/ waist)
80. He wears a _________________ coat (waste/ waist)
81. No _________is used in making this chain (mettle/ metal)
82. This is the test of your_______________(mettle/ metal)
83. He was playing a _____________________game (foul/ fowl)
84. Many people eat the meat of ___________________( foul /fowl)
85. Her ________________are so soft (feet/ feat)
86. It was a _______________________of real physical skill (feet/ feat)
87. There is not even a ___________________of water in the jug (draught/ drought)
88. There is fear of famine on account of___________________ (draught, drought)
89. Dont take a very heavy_________ of this medicine (dose, doze)
90. They ___________________ in the class (dose, doze)
Correction of Sentences
WRONG RIGHT
1 The sceneries of Kashmir are beautiful The scenery of Kashmir is beautiful
2 No news are good news No news is good news
3 The scissor is very sharp The scissors are very sharp
4 He has no sister-in-laws He has no sisters-in-law
5 She bought five dozens oranges She bought five dozen oranges
The members of his family went to Ooty last
6 His family members went to Ooty last year year
7 She waited for me one and half hour She waited for me one and half hours
8 She is my cousin sister She is my cousin
9 The tables leg was damaged The leg of the table was damaged
10 One should respect his teachers One should respect ones teachers
11 I and he are friends He and I are friends
12 Either of the two girls are intelligent Either of the two girls is intelligent
13 Every boy and every girl have to work hard Every boy and every girl has to work hard
Neither the officer nor the clerks have done
14 Neither the officer nor the clerks has done it it
15 The two sisters are very fond of one another The two sisters are very fond of each
another
16 The children never quarrel with each other The children never quarrel with one other
17 We enjoyed during vacation We enjoyed ourselves during vacation
18 I shall avail this opportunity I shall avail myself of this opportunity
19 India is hotter than any country India is hotter than any other country
The climate of Hyderabad is better than The climate of Hyderabad is better than that
20 Bangalore of Bangalore
21 His both sons are doctors Both his sons are doctors
22 The two first pages of the book are torn The first two pages of the book are torn
23 Many a man have attended the function Many a man has attended the function
24 She is elder than I She is older than I
Due to his illness, he could not attend the Owing to his illness, he could not attend the
25 party party
26 He works very hardly He works very hard
27 She is one of the best friend I have She is one of the best friends I have
28 He ran fast lest he many miss the bus He ran fast lest he should miss the bus
29 The poet and novelist were dead The poet and novelist was dead
30 Either he or I are at the top of the class Either he or I am at the top of the class
31 One of the doors were damaged One of the doors was damaged
He is not only brilliant in mathematics but He is brilliant not only in mathematics but
32 also in physics also in Physics
33 Sita as well as padma know dancing Sita as well as padma knows dancing
34 Hundred miles are a long distance Hundred miles is a long distance
35 Her voice is so sweet as honey Her voice is so sweet as honey
36 Coffee is more preferable than tea Coffee is more preferable to tea
37 She is more cleverer than her sister She cleverer than her sister
38 They have ordered for ten cups of coffee They have ordered ten cups of coffee
39 The police prevented us to go The police prevented us from going
40 Though he is poor, yet he is honest Though he is poor, he is honest
41 He is eighteen years He is eighteen years old
42 Mother loves her children like anything Mother loves her children like nothing
43 I am believing you I believe you
44 We have seen a film yesterday We saw a film yesterday
45 She looks forward to see him soon She looks forward to seeing him soon
46 She can do nothing but to weep She can do nothing but weep
47 I have no pen to write I have no pen to write with
48 They discussed about politics They discussed politics
49 They are awaiting for the bus now They are waiting for the bus now
50 The hens have lain no eggs today The hens have laid no eggs today
51 The river has over flown its banks The river has overflowed its banks
She being poor, she could not educate her
52 Being poor, she could not educate her son
son
53 Go and fetch me a glass of water Fetch me a glass of water
54 He is very generous, isnt it? He is very generous, is nt he?